author: Pingwin
Apple Will Track Our Movements to Save Energy
Both cameras and data from other Apple hardware will be used to detect if we are using the device at any given time.
Currently, devices turn off or dim their screens after a user-selectable period of time, such as 30 seconds. But what if we could do it faster and smarter? Apple is working on an attention detection service. It would allow for an intelligent and much faster response than a predetermined time to turn off the screen and thus save energy.
In the patent published by Apple we read that such a solution would apply both in mobile devices and those constantly connected to a power supply. The former are by default adapted to work with limited energy resources, hence the need to save batteries is understandable. In the second case, the heating of the device when drawing more power and the energy used to cool it down in such situations was taken into account.
Multiple sensors and peripheral hardware could be used to detect attention. Inter-device communication could also help the technology work smoothly, e.g. a home MacBook would detect that an iPhone along with its owner are away from home, and a company iMac would turn off the screen when an employee is currently using Apple CarPlay. This is particularly interesting in the case of Apple Watches, which measure heart rate, blood oxygen levels and other very detailed parameters that change depending on activity. What's more, the sensor device could also include a camera, through which it would determine if we are in its vicinity and paying attention.
The question remains, of course, whether such an action does not go beyond the limits of good taste in terms of user privacy. However, Apple declares that the patent would be implemented in good faith.